올리다 vs 내리다: The Difference Between Raising and Lowering

올리다 (ol-ri-da, olrida) · 내리다 (nae-ri-da, naerida)

'올리다' means to raise or lift something up, while '내리다' means to lower or bring something down.

Comparison of Korean verbs 올리다 and 내리다 with examples

Word-by-word breakdown

One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.

올리다(ol-ri-da, olrida)

To move something upward or raise it higher.

When to use

Lifting objects upward, Raising prices, Uploading photos online

The nuance

Used when lifting or raising something upward, or changing its position to a higher place.

내리다(nae-ri-da, naerida)

To move something downward or lower it.

When to use

Lowering objects downward, Reducing prices, Getting off a bus

The nuance

Used when lowering something downward, changing its position to a lower place, or dropping it.

Real-world examples

  • 창문을 올려 주세요.

    chang-mun-eul ol-ryeo ju-se-yo., chang mun eul ol ryeo ju se yo.

    Because the action is lifting the window upward, '올리다' is correct.

  • 창문을 내려 주세요.

    chang-mun-eul nae-ryeo ju-se-yo., chang mun eul nae ryeo ju se yo.

    Because the action is lowering the window downward, '내리다' is correct.

  • 가격을 올렸어요.

    ga-gyeok-eul ol-ryeoss-eo-yo., ga gyeok eul ol ryeoss eo yo.

    Used to indicate raising the price, so '올리다' is correct.

  • 가격을 내렸어요.

    ga-gyeok-eul nae-ryeoss-eo-yo., ga gyeok eul nae ryeoss eo yo.

    Used to indicate lowering the price, so '내리다' is correct.

  • 사진을 내렸어요.

    sa-jin-eul nae-ryeoss-eo-yo., sa jin eul nae ryeoss eo yo.

    Uploading photos is expressed with '올리다'; using '내리다' here is incorrect.

  • 버스에서 올렸어요.

    beo-seu-e-seo ol-ryeoss-eo-yo., beo seu e seo ol ryeoss eo yo.

    Getting off a bus uses '내리다'; '올리다' is grammatically incorrect here.

  • 커튼을 올렸어요.

    keo-teun-eul ol-ryeoss-eo-yo., keo teun eul ol ryeoss eo yo.

    Because the curtain is being lifted upward, '올리다' is correct.

  • 커튼을 내렸어요.

    keo-teun-eul nae-ryeoss-eo-yo., keo teun eul nae ryeoss eo yo.

    Because the curtain is being lowered downward, '내리다' is correct.

Quick quiz

  1. Fill in the blank: Please ( ) the window.

    창문을 ( ) 주세요.(chang-mun-eul()ju-se-yo., changmuneul()juseyo.)
  2. Fill in the blank: If you ( ) the price, more customers will come.

    가격을 ( )면 손님이 더 많이 올 거예요.(ga-gyeok-eul()myeonson-nim-ideoman-iolgeo-ye-yo., gagyeokeul()myeonsonnimideomaniolgeoyeyo.)
  3. Fill in the blank: I want to ( ) the photo on the internet.

    사진을 인터넷에 ( )고 싶어요.(sa-jin-eulin-teo-nes-e()gosip-eo-yo., sajineulinteonese()gosipeoyo.)
  4. Fill in the blank: When you ( ) the bus, take your umbrella.

    버스에서 ( ) 때 우산을 챙기세요.(beo-seu-e-seo()ttaeu-san-eulchaeng-gi-se-yo., beoseueseo()ttaeusaneulchaenggiseyo.)

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